Vehicle-frame suspension.



G. PORNAGA.

VEHICLE FRAME SUSPENSION. APPLIUATION FILED MBA?, 1909.

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353313 Gte/anew G. PORNAGA.

VEHICLE FRAME SUSPENSION APPLICATION FILED EEB. 17, 1909.

979,278. Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

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YUNITED STA-'rits Parana ernten.

GUIDO FORNACA, oF TURIN, 'I'TALY, AssIGNOn, BY ivins'Nn AssIGNivinNrs, To.

F. i. A. r., oF POUGHKEEPSIF., NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF New YORK.

VEHICLE-FRAME SUSPENSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 17, 1909. Serial lNO. 478,457.

Turin, in the Province of APiedmont and` Kingdom of Italy, have inventedtcertain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-v vFrameSuspension, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

' This invention relates to vehicle frame suspension and more particularly has reference toiinprovernents in the manner of constructing and attaching the rear frame of an automobile'to the rear springs and the rear axle. y

In Order that the vehicle may be easy. riding, it is not only desirable that the springs be of considerable. length and as far apart as possible, but the'franie should,be hung low, and the wheel base, or distance between the Wheels, be as long as possible. NVhere semi-elliptic springs are used, if made sutli- Oiently long to ride, easily, the wheel base must either be shortened or the frame. extended by heavy extensions to carry the rear ends of the springs. Thisrequires strengthning ofthe frame and increases the weight,

as fell as'cost of manufacture, while ify springs other than semi-elliptic are used,

such asthreefquarter elliptic, to give smoother riding qualities, the frame may be raised objectionably high.

This invention has for its'objects to pro'-v vide a light, but strong and rigid frame construction, andals to permit the frame to be hung low on -widely placed` outside springs other than seniifelliptic, 4,such as thref quarter elliptic springs herein shown. Byiiiis invention, the-sprii'igs can readily be attached and detached, and do not interfere with the body.

'Ihe invention will be more fully underh /stood in connection with the description of the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 represents in -`sideelevation, a portion of the rear end of a,.vehicle einbcdying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Figs. 3,- 4, 5, and 6 are detailed views showing the manner of attaching the springs and Fig. T is an enlarged detail showing the manner of joining the side and back portions of the frame.

The invention is especially applicable to vehicle frames composed of channel bars and, as herein shown, comprises a .pair of oppositely disposed til-shaped side bars 1 and end bar s 2 connected therewith in the manner shown in Fig. 7. The sides 1 are channeled `or U-shaped in cross section and at the rear end are drawn down as at 3 so as to be ernbra'ced by the upper and lower flanges or extensions 4 forined on the end pieces 2. To secure the parts together rivets or other .suitable fastenings may be employed.

7 and 8' are integral extensions of the flanges .of end pieces 2, projecting laterally beyond the sides-1.

Between the extensions'? and 8 is clamped a spring 10, which is connected by a link l2 to one end of a semi-elliptic spring 11, the other end of the spring 11 being connected to the frame by means of a second link 12 pivoted at 13. The springs 10 and 11, as

'herein shown, constitutel what is knownl as a three quarter elliptic spring. The spring .1l-carries intermediate its ends, an axle 15 carrying wheel 14;, the axle 15 being secured to the spring 11 by clips 16, or in any other approved manner.

As will be seen, the springs 10 andll are composed of a number of. leaves, and the leaves of spring 10 are preferably clamped between the extensions 7 and 8 of the end piece 2 by bolts or clamps 18 having nuts 19. It will be observed that the bolts 18 donot pass through the leaves of the spring 10,

Patented nec. 2o, icio.

though, if desirable, additional bolts 20 car- `ried by the extensions 7 and 8 can be provided, passing through the leaves of the spring.

It will be. observed that the side bars 1 are. dropped oi' bent in front of the axle, as at 21, this-being for the purpose of permitting the entrance of the body to be lower than would otherwise be possible and it also provides that the attachment of the front end of spring 11 to the side 1 will not raise the frame too high. .It is desirable that the body be hungas low as possible on the springs, and that .the springs .be as widely separated as possible, in oidei to reduce the tendency to sidewise swaying. At the saine time the spring should notbe attached at the rear to the frame in such a manner that the vbody will have to be altered or raised above the plane of the frame. JIhese results are attained herein since the top of the frame is within and at or below theupper spring. Also, it will be seen that the extensions? and 8 between which the short vspring l is clamped are integral parts of the end frame@ vwhich extensions are, to a certain extent, reinforced by the reduced ends 3 ofthe sides-1 which extend shown in Fig. 7 within the` entensionsll of the .end

frame 2 up to the back of the end frame 2, thereby forming a very 'rigid and vStrong structure with a small amount of metal and held. Such a construction, aside from its lightness and strength, has advanta s in l its cheapness, being entirely made o .plate metal, riveted together vwhere desirable.

lt will be seen' that one spring can be 'easily removed and another substituted without disturbing the body. It will further be seen that changes in the length of sprinos will not require change in the len h of:` wheel base, lengthening of the rear'spring support, or other special modification of the frame, so. that lon or. short springs may be employed as esired to suit. a particular requirement.

l claiml. In a vehicle frame suspension, a channeled side member and a channeled cross member secured toe'ach other, one of said members being reduced at the end on both sides to pass between the flanges of the other member, the flanges of said latter member having integral extensions projecting longitudinally of the other member and vembracing the reduced portion thereof to -form a flush over-lapped joint, and a spring lattached to said frame parallel to -said side member.

2. ln a vehicle frame construction, a channeled side member and a channeled end member, the side member being reduced at the end to pass between the flanges of the end member and against the web, flange eX- tensions on the end member extending laterally outside the side member, fastening means, and a spring heldbetween said eX- tensions and extending longitudinally of the side frame.

3. lin a vehicle frame construction, a channeled side member, a channeled end member, the side member being reduced at the end to pass between the flanges and against the web of the end member, said end member being riveted to the side member, and havf ing extensions projecting beyond the side member, and a three-quarter elliptic spring clamped at the end between said extensions eran-.ref

side member, an end member secured 'there-o toand extending beyond' the `side memberand a vsidespring attached to the eXten- 'sion, of the end member Aand to the side member; 1

'5. ln automobile framev construction, a

side member having its end higher thanvthe.

intermediatefportion, an end membersef cured to the end of said side member and extending .beyond the-side membenfand a side -sprin attached at onenpo'int to the eX- .tension o the end member and at another' point to ,the intermediate -portion of said side frame.. V l

.6. In automobile frame construction, a channeled side member and a channeled end member securedto` each` other to form a corner, a pair offseparated plates projecting laterally beyond the side member, and-a spring secured between said plates and extending in the direction of the side frame.

7. Inv automobile frame construction, a

side member, an end member secured'to said side member to form a corner of the frame, a' side spring outside said' frame and parallel to sald side member, means for pivoting said spring at its forward end. to said side I Amember, a 4wheel axle intermediatelyattached tothe middle portion of said spring,`

and a second spring secured to the frame rearwardly of the point of attachment-of said first springl and-connected at its rear end to the rear end of said first spring.l

8. lln automobile frame construction, a side member having its rear end higher than the intermediate portion, an end member `secured to the end of said side member to form acornervof the frame, a side spring outside said. frame and parallel to said side member, means for pivoting said spring at its forward end to the intermediate portion of said side member, a wheel axle intermedi- GUID@ FORNACA.

lVitnesses J. S. doserim, LoUrs ALLAN. 

